Savvy squid, octopuses on rise despite warming ocean

Update:
May, 24/2016 - 11:25

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MIAMI – The oceans are warming and coral reefs aredying, but octopuses, squids and cuttlefish appear to be thriving, with theirnumbers steadily rising over the past 60 years, researchers said hace said.

The findings, based on a global database of cephalopod catch rates devisedby researchers at the University of Adelaide, were reported on Monday in the journalCurrent Biology.

"Our analyses showed that cephalopod abundance has increased since the1950s, a result that was remarkably consistent across three distinct groups,"said lead author Zoe Doubleday.

She said cephalopods may be benefiting from the changing environmentbecause of their "unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth,short lifespans and flexible development."

The study did not say how many more such creatures there are today than inthe 1950s, or give any figures for the rate of increase.

However, the study said the rise in abundance was clear across the globe,based on samples from all the world’s major oceans.

Previous studies have also pointed to warming temperatures as a boon tocephalopods, which may have fewer predators as global fish stocks decline.

But researchers said more work is needed to uncover the factors at play,and the future implications.

The current project got started as an investigation into declining numbersof the Giant Australian cuttlefish, said Doubleday.

"There has been a lot of concern over declining numbers of the iconic GiantAustralian cuttlefish at the world-renowned breeding ground in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf," she said.

"To determine if similar patterns were occurring elsewhere, we compiledthis global-scale database," she added.

"Surprisingly, analyses revealed that cephalopods, as a whole, are in factincreasing; and since this study, cuttlefish numbers from this iconicpopulation near Whyalla are luckily bouncing back." — AFP